Sport Witness

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Sporting’s Maxi Araújo in the summer.

The Uruguay international is attracting interest from several clubs and both Chelsea and Tottenham are in this list.

Araújo joined the Lions from Mexican side Toluca in August 2024. He has been a regular, mainly operating as a left-back, and at times as a wing-back and a winger.

This season, he’s played 35 matches and 27 were as a left-back. Over those matches he’s managed six goals and four assists.

The league stats per game would give an idea of his overall game, both while attacking and defending.

Big chances created: 2

Key passes: 1.2

Shots on target: 0.6

Goal conversion: 13%

Interceptions: 1.1

Tackles: 1.9

Ball recovery: 3.8

Clearances: 1.3

Duels won: 5.8

His performances and versatility could make him an attractive option in the market, and it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.

Chelsea and Tottenham travel for Maxi Araujo

The fullback is on the front page of today’s edition of Record. The Blues, Spurs, AC Milan and Atlético Madrid are his suitors, with ‘Crazy for Maxi’ written in bold.

Within the report, the newspaper gives an insight into the work done by the two Premier League sides and others so far.

Earlier this week, Sporting overcame a 3-0 first leg deficit to beat Bodø/Glimt in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Lions won the tie 5-1 in extra time to seal a berth in the quarter final.

Araújo played 110 minutes and scored the fourth goal in extra time, crucial for Sporting to progress in the competition.

Napoli and Atalanta have already looked at him.

The ‘interest has increased’ as Chelsea, Tottenham, the La Liga side and the Rossoneri are now keen. In fact, the four clubs specifically travelled to Portugal to watch the South American.

The Blues signed Geovany Quenda and Dário Essugo from the Lions in 2025. Earlier in the season, Sport Witness relayed news of Chelsea travelling to Portugal to scout more players.

Chelsea, Spurs and the two other clubs have collected positive reports about Araújo and whether it’s sufficient to make advances isn’t clear yet.

Why summer deal could be complicated

Sporting, from their perspective, want to offer him an extension, to improve his current salary of €650-700k per year. He has an €80m release clause and whether this will rise with a new deal isn’t clear.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has dropped out of Italy’s 28‑man squad for the international break.

He suffered an injury just hours before Gennaro Gattuso named his selection.

Gattuso confirmed the decision today and immediately recalled Alex Meret, who returns after injury forced him out earlier in the season.

Late Injury Forces Goalkeeping Change

Tuttomercatoweb report that Vicario will undergo tests with Tottenham in the coming hours. As a result, Gattuso chose not to include him and instead called up Meret.

Doctors have yet to clarify the nature of the injury, and further assessments will determine how long Vicario may remain sidelined.

Gianluigi Donnarumma will lead Italy’s goalkeeping group as first choice. Marco Carneschi slots in as the primary backup, Elia Caprile takes the number‑three role, and Meret completes the four‑man unit.

Concerns for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham will now assess Vicario to establish the severity of the problem, and the club will hope the 29‑year‑old avoids a lengthy absence amid ongoing scrutiny of the goalkeeping position.

If Vicario misses time, Antonín Kinský could receive another opportunity to impress following his difficult performance against Atlético Madrid.

Domestic and International Stakes Ahead

Tottenham face Nottingham Forest this weekend in a relegation six‑pointer, which adds urgency to the situation.

Italy, meanwhile, shift their focus to World Cup qualification and will gather at Coverciano ahead of a decisive week.

The country host Northern Ireland in their World Cup play‑off semi‑final on Thursday 26th March in Bergamo, before a potential final against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31st.

Although Vicario did not hold a starting role, his absence still represents a setback, as it disrupts Gattuso’s carefully balanced squad at a critical moment.

This all comes at a time the Tottenham player is being heavily pushed towards a Serie A return.

Stability a Priority for Italy

With only two matches separating Italy from a World Cup place, the squad requires stability, and the late change complicates preparations.

For Tottenham, attention now turns to Vicario’s recovery timeline and whether the club can reintegrate him sooner rather than later.

Juventus pushed hard to sign Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani in January. Their attempts for the striker will intensify in the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman found the net against Atletico Madrid this week and also scored a Premier League goal against Arsenal in Igor Tudor’s first game as manager.

He shone under the Croatian at Juventus, helping them qualify for the Champions League last season.

Confidence now seems to be growing in Turin about the possibility of bringing the Tottenham player to Juve. They’re reached a point where they are visualising line-ups involving the striker.

Ravanelli name-drops Tottenham player

Ex-Juventus icon Fabrizio Ravanelli spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview about the club’s attacking situation today.

Stating his belief that Juve lack cold-blooded finishers in front of goal, he said: “In Italy, they can do very well and have shown it, they’re guaranteed 15-20 goals this season.

“He’s quick, with sprints and dribbling, I could see him doing well. If you think about Kolo Muani-Osimhen, Kolo Muani-Thuram or Thuram-Osimhen, they’re pairings that Juventus fans would love.”

The report also speaks of the possibility of Kolo-Muani and Dusan Vlahovic playing together. They did that in the second half of last season and Tudor got them working well/

There also appears to be confidence that they can reunite, with the Serbian opening up to the possibility of staying beyond the campaign.

Deal feels like blind hope

The Italian press has constantly seemed convinced that the relationship between Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain has improved since last year. The two clubs were involved in public spats after Tottenham spoiled the Bianconeri’s plans for the summer.

That is why Gazzetta seem too far ahead of the curve and are simply presuming a deal will go through.

Tottenham are unlikely to have a say but Kolo Muani has shown he is good enough to play for a major club. Even at Spurs, he has shown glimpses of his quality in times of crisis. Juve are right to move for him but a deal is likely to be complex.

Talk around Guglielmo Vicario’s Tottenham future has only grown in recent weeks. Inter Milan are now intensifying their attempts for the goalkeeper.

On Thursday, Sport Witness covered Calciomercato’s claims about Nerazzurri sporting director Piero Ausilio travelling to London. The intention was to set the ball rolling for a deal involving the goalkeeper.

Contacts between the parties was expected, with the director also having watched multiple Champions League games in England this week.

Now, Gazzetta dello Sport add more details about the player’s future and about Ausilio’s moves during his time in the English capital.

Tottenham player’s agent met Ausilio

The newspaper report describe the situation as ‘a flight to London’, highlighting that Ausilio was at Tottenham’s Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

He wasn’t just accompanied by his assistant Dario Baccin but also by Vicario’s agent Gabriele Giuffrida. The Italian is described as an international mediator and someone who has an excellent relationship with Ausilio. He’s helped the Nerazzurri multiple times in the past and could help in a deal for the Spurs player too.

The two parties updated each other about the Tottenham goalkeeper during the meeting. It is believed Giuffrida will be crucial, partly in convincing Spurs to agree a good deal.

The 29-year-old is keen on leaving the London side and Gazzetta say he is expected to cost €20m. There is confidence that this agreement can be struck using bonuses that will convince Igor Tudor’s side.

To make it clear, Gazzetta dello Sport report: ‘Vicario will turn 30 in October and can be acquired for a fee no higher than €20m, potentially to be reached through simple bonuses.’

So that’s €20m including bonuses, which seems wildly optimistic on Inter Milan’s behalf.

Giuffrida key in Tottenham exit

Inter Milan are doing all they can to establish the foundation of a deal.

As of now, Giuffrida also represents another Tottenham player in Radu Dragusin and has a lot of influence in the Italian market. There is no surprise he is being relied upon, considering his experience.

Beyond that, the player’s wishes are also being taken into account and that is pushing the move forward.

Vicario’s current deal runs out in 2028, which makes 2026 a good time to sell him. He is now approaching his 30s and there are enough younger – and better – goalkeepers in the market for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur plan to compete with Newcastle United over a move for RC Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser.

Both Tottenham and Newcastle United are looking for new stoppers in the summer and have Risser on their list.

The Ligue 1 side signed him from RC Strasbourg in July 2021, and the goalkeeper has been their No.1 this season.

He has 11 clean sheets and has conceded 27 goals from 29 matches in all competitions and 26 are in the league. Below are his stats with Lens from Ligue 1.

Goals conceded per game: 09

Penalties saved: 2/5

Shots on target: 84

Saves: 64

Save percentage: 74.4%

Goals prevented: 6.46

Spurs and Magpies keen on signing

The 21-year-old’s form for Lens has already attracted Newcastle United’s interest and now Tottenham have joined the chase. That’s according to Jeunes Footeux, who make it clear it’s their own information on Robin Risser.

Tottenham have Guglielmo Vicario as the No.1, with Antonín Kinský and Brandon Austin as his backups.

Igor Tudor started Kinský in Spurs’ 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid last week before replacing him after 17 minutes. The 23-year-old Czech could leave the north London club after this season.

Inter Milan are working on signing Vicario from Tottenham and their sporting director, Piero Ausilio, has travelled to London. On Thursday, Sport Witness relayed news Ausilio’s trip is to accelerate transfer talks with the north London club.

Jeunes Footeux note Vicario’s situation and state Spurs are ‘no longer hiding their intention’ of needing a new stopper. This has seen them shift their focus to Risser, and Tudor’s side have made concrete enquires despite the ‘fierce competition’ from the Magpies.

Robin Risser’s contract, value and agent info

The France U21 international has a contract until 2030. His value, as per Transfermarkt, was €1.5m in June 2025. Since moving to Lens, it has raised drastically and is €10m now.

However, the Ligue 1 side would need a fee much higher than that to part ways with him in the summer as Sport Witness covered claims yesterday that Lens have set a €30-40m price.

Carmenta, headed by French agent Joseph Mohan, represents the goalkeeper, and the representative has 16 clients in his stable. However, none of them are presently in the UK.

Inter Milan are stepping on the accelerator for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with sporting director Piero Ausilio travelling to London to push talks forwards.

According to Calciomercato, Ausilio has travelled to London to push the talks. The Tottenham goalkeeper has now approved the move and wants to return to Italy.

Inter’s 2023 target comes back into focus

Inter first targeted Vicario as their long-term No.1 back in 2023. The club made concrete moves at that point, and the goalkeeper was open to joining.

But Empoli’s €20m valuation and Inter’s financial timing issues opened the door for Tottenham, who swooped in and closed the deal within hours.

Vicario wants out and Spurs’ crisis isn’t helping

The Premier League adventure with Tottenham has not gone as planned. Calciomercato report that Vicario’s discomfort at Tottenham began in October and their slide towards relegation has only strengthened his desire to return to Serie A.

He has also been encouraged in Italy to make the move to the Champions League finalists.

Ausilio’s London mission

Ausilio’s trip to London includes several meetings, but Vicario is the priority. Inter see him as a future first-choice goalkeeper. With the player’s approval already secured, they are now ready to move quickly.

Inter are preparing for a change in their goalkeeper department this summer. Yann Sommer’s contract is expiring and he could leave Milan. Meanwhile, Josep Martinez, currently the backup, has not convinced the club and may also be moved on.

Now they appear to be stepping on the accelerator for Vicario. But it is unlikely any firm bids will be made at this point.

It would make little sense to seal a deal for Vicario now with Tottenham still in a precarious position. Relegation to the Championship could spark a fire-sale at Spurs this summer and see Vicario on the market for a significantly lower price.

Instead, Ausilio’s trip to London feels more like a preparation step, seemingly encouraged by Vicario approving the move and setting the stage for a summer exit from Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult season is now starting to have consequences beyond north London, with Richarlison’s situation for Brazil becoming a talking point ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The striker has long been a trusted option for Carlo Ancelotti. Their relationship dates back to their time together at Everton, when the Italian quickly leaned on Richarlison as a key attacking figure.

That connection carried into the Brazil setup, where the Tottenham forward continued to receive opportunities even during inconsistent periods at club level.

Across Ancelotti’s first four call-ups, Richarlison remained involved. He featured in six matches, including two starts, despite not scoring.

Even when his minutes at Tottenham fluctuated, the Brazilian coach continued to value his profile – physical presence, aerial ability and work rate – as something different within the squad.

Tottenham struggles starting to weigh in

Tottenham’s season has been nothing short of turbulent. The club are enduring a poor run of results, struggling for consistency and hovering uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.

In Europe, things have not gone much better. Spurs suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid, effectively ending their Champions League hopes despite the formalities of a second leg still to come.

Within that environment, Richarlison has been trying to rebuild momentum after another injury setback. The Brazilian missed several weeks with a thigh problem between January and February.

Since returning under Igor Tudor, he has featured in five matches. During that spell, he has scored twice – including a decisive goal against Liverpool – and added an assist. While he has not transformed Tottenham’s collective form, he has at least provided signs of individual sharpness.

There is also growing clarity around his club future. As we recently covered, Tottenham and Richarlison have already agreed he will leave at the end of the season.

The decision is said to have followed internal conversations, with both sides viewing June 2026 as the right moment to move on. There is no pressure involved, but rather a shared understanding about what comes next in his career.

Tottenham have also set a valuation ahead of the summer window. The club are expected to demand around £21.5m (€25m) for the striker, a figure that will guide negotiations.

Ancelotti and Richarlison: trust built over time

Richarlison’s importance to Brazil is not built on numbers alone. He was the team’s leading striker at the 2022 World Cup, scoring three goals and establishing himself as a reference point in attack.

Since then, even through injuries and irregular club form, he has largely maintained Ancelotti’s backing. The Italian has often shown a willingness to prioritise familiarity and tactical fit over pure club performance, especially in transitional periods.

That context helps explain why his absence this week in the list to Brazil’s last international friendles before the 2026 World Cup stands out.

Brazil decision confirmed

The news is, as highlighted by Bolavip in Brazil, for the first time under Ancelotti, Richarlison has been left out of a squad despite being fit and available.

The report points out that his absence says more about Tottenham’s current situation than about the player himself. With Spurs struggling badly, the broader context appears to have influenced the decision.

That marks a clear shift. Previously, Richarlison had remained part of the squad even without strong club momentum. Now, with increased competition for the No.9 role and the World Cup approaching, the margin for error is smaller.

What happens next

Richarlison now enters a decisive period. With the World Cup on the horizon, every performance carries extra weight.

Tottenham’s struggles may be complicating his case, but the Brazilian has at least started to show signs of life since returning from injury. If he continues to contribute goals and assists, he could still force his way back into Ancelotti’s plans.

However, for the first time, there is a clear signal that past trust alone may no longer be enough.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Real Madrid in the race to sign Luka Vušković from Hajduk Split.

In September 2023, Tottenham reached a £12m [€13.9m] agreement with Hajduk Split for the defender to arrive in London last summer.

The Premier League side sent him on a season-long loan to Hamburg SV in August 2025. The move has worked out well for the centre-back, who has established himself in the Bundesliga.

He played 2,280 minutes from 25 matches and even managed five goals and an assist so far this season.

The Tottenham owned player is impressing at Hamburg and below are his stats per game from the Bundesliga.

Interceptions: 1.2

Tackles: 0.8

Ball recovery: 4.3

Ground duels won: 2.1

Aerial duels won: 5.5

Prior to Hajduk Split’s agreement with Tottenham, Real Madrid made advances to sign the Croatia international.

Tottenham beat Real Madrid for signing

That’s according to Hamburger Abendblatt, who report why the La Liga side failed to sign him.

The newspaper obtained several photos of the 19-year-old’s camp visiting Real Madrid in the past.

His brother, Mario, mother, Sanja, and agent Damir Smoljan met their then manager, Carlo Ancelotti, and compatriot Luka Modrić. The latter left the Spanish club for AC Milan last summer.

‘Everything pointed’ to an agreement with Real Madrid, who had offered €6m plus €6m bonuses to Hajduk Split, and discussed personal terms. However, things changed after Luka Vušković’s entourage returned to Croatia from their trip to Madrid.

A member of his family and lawyer Tomislav Kasalo had leaked Real Madrid’s interest at a pub in Split.

At that time, Kasalo also did business with Pini Zahavi, who informed him of Los Blancos’ advances. The pair worked out a plan to block his move to Spain.

It worked as Zahavi secured Spurs’ offer while the lawyer convinced the Vušković family. The latter had handled Mario’s doping ban case. He didn’t charge a fee and helped Zahavi secure Luka as a client.

What next for Luka Vušković

His rise at Hamburg has caught the attention of other clubs, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Zahavi recently said a decision on his client’s future will be made at the end of the season.

Last week, Luka refused to discuss his future and pointed out he has a contract with the north London club until 2030.

Transfermarkt now value him at €40m, which is a €22m increase from October 2025. This gives an indication of his rapid development, and Spurs have a decision to make on his future in the summer.

Real Madrid, for their part, would now regret losing out on the defender to Tottenham. It’s unclear whether the La Liga side will return for the Croatian at some point in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro says he is not thinking about leaving the Premier League side right now.

The right-back has been the first choice since joining Tottenham from Sporting in January 2023.

His status hasn’t changed despite Spurs changing managers repeatedly. He’s played under Antonio Conte, Ryan Mason, Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank and now Igor Tudor at the north London club.

The Spain international has played 143 matches for Tottenham, managing 12 goals and 26 assists. His performance this season, when compared to last season, has dropped and below are the stats per game [this season first].

Interceptions: 0.7 – 1.1

Tackles: 1.9 – 2.0

Dribbled past: 1.3 – 1.0

Ground duels won: 3.1 – 3.4

Possession lost: 19.3 – 17.5

Yellow Cards: 6 [so far] – 5

Despite the dip in form, the 26-year-old’s name continues to appear in rumour mill.

Tottenham player calms Spain move

Spurs host Atlético Madrid in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. The first leg in Madrid ended in a 5-2 defeat for the English club. Ahead of this clash, Tuesday’s edition of AS has published an interview with Porro.

Towards the end, the newspaper points out Real Madrid, Barcelona and Diego Simeone’s side have had him on their radar.

AS then specifically ask the former Girona man whether he would like to return to Spain.

Responding to that, he said: “Right now, I’m not thinking about returning. I’m focused on getting through this, on getting out of it somehow. When you’re young, you dream about the biggest clubs. I’m at one, even though things aren’t going well for us. I’d like to return to Spain someday, also for my family. I hope the door is always open.”

Last summer, Atlético showed serious interest in Cristian Romero, but Spurs refused to sanction a sale. Instead, the Premier League extended the Argentina international’s contract until 2029.

Porro recently said he didn’t discuss Los Rojiblancos links with the centre-back.

AS ask him about the Romero links, and Porro explained: “He’s a leader. He means a lot to us. He’s very important in the locker room, and besides, he brings his experience. In that leadership mentality, that drive to win everything, we’re similar: I don’t care if they step on me, I’ll get back up. And that’s Cuti, besides being an extraordinary player.”

Porro’s contract, value and agent info

The Spaniard will have two years left on his contract at the end of this season. Tottenham have to secure his long-term future by offering an extension, to avoid any risk of losing him in the summer or 2027.

Transfermarkt valued him at €35m when he moved to Tottenham. That increased by €10m in December 2023 and dropped to €38m in May 2025, before rising slightly to €40m now.

Porro is represented by British agency CAA Base, whose client list also includes Spurs’ Richarlison, James Maddison and Djed Spence.

Niccolo Pisilli has had an impressive last few months at AS Roma. The midfielder is now attracting attention from Tottenham.

Earlier in the campaign, the Italian seemed to be on the peripheries of the Giallorossi first-team. By the end of December, he had played only three times in Serie A but the tide turned after he scored a brace against Stuttgart in the Europa League.

This has led to Gian Piero Gasperini using the midfielder more, as Pisilli started against Juventus and Genoa after scoring against Cremonese.

The 21-year-old is also in the fray for a call-up to the Italian national team, which shows how far he has come in a short time this season.

Tottenham’s interest in the player is growing, with ASRomaLive providing some key details.

Tottenham keen on Pisilli

The outlet make it clear that Juve have been following the young midfielder for a while now. They are now facing stiff competition from Spurs, who are believed to have put forward €20m in January.

Roma rejected this approach but Tottenham remain keen on the player.

This can lead to the reigning Europa League champions offering Destiny Udogie in a potential swap for Pisilli.

It is believed that if this deal goes through, it would represent a ‘double insult’ for the Bianconeri. That is mainly because they aren’t just keen on Pisilli but also see Udogie himself as a target for the summer.

Tottenham talk seem overblown

There is no doubt about Pisilli’s ability in the final third as a midfielder, the report feels exaggerated.

That is mainly because there is no reason for Tottenham to have offered €20m for a player who wasn’t even a regular. The Italian played over 40 times in all competitions last season but his stock had dropped earlier in the ongoing campaign.

Moreover, Udogie probably has a higher value than the Roma talent. A direct swap deal involving the two players would only go down as a loss for Spurs, who should ideally value the left-back at over €30m.

Considering everything, ASRomaLive’s report seems to be an attempt at promoting the midfielder in the best possible light.